Ereaders

It's not unusual to find a group of teenagers sitting quietly, all of them with their heads looking down, shoulders slumped, as they silently tap away at their smartphones. Many of them are texting each other (some sitting right across from them), catching up on social media or watching YouTube videos.

Five books a week? Many of my friends are shocked that I can get through so many. "I wish! I simply don't have the time," many of them say... If you've binge watched even one Netflix series, you've had time to read. If you've been on Facebook scrolling through posts from a month ago, you've had time to read.

Reading on my smartphone, tablet or e-reader doesn't give me the same thrill as reading an old-fashioned paper book. But why would I stop by the bookstore, or visit the local library, when I can download the latest books in seconds? Does society need paper books any more?